I currently have a Yamaha YZF R125 going to aim to get my Direct Access this year November time. What 2nd bigger bike should I be looking at getting in about a years time once I have some NCB under my belt? Friends have suggested I get a Suzuki SV650. What's your views? :)
SV650 is a good choice as is the Kawasaki ER6N, really depends on what you fancy and feel comfy on, maybe one of the older (2000 ish) 600 sports bikes they aren't quite as 'focused' as the current ones but still quick enough, insurance will still be high though.
Is there any 600 bike that would be cheap on insurance mainly a sports bike or would you recommend a different type? I'd like to comfy and power but no stupid speed maybe 130 mph max.
none will be cheap for insurance really but the non-sportsbike stuff will be less horrific :)
One of the biking folks I work with went from a CBR125 to a ER6N then recently to a new GSX650F and far prefers the GSX wishes he had gone straight to it
Ah, GSX650F, i didn't think about that one. My workmate sold one last year. I rode it, and it was a very forgiving bike with a respectable turn of speed. Styling was very gixxeresque from the front.
Welcome to the site anyhow Myles. Good to see you made it :thumbright: :moto:
cbr600fx was my first big bike, still got it nearly nine years on. Its still a very capable bike and for a first big bike it was way plenty for me!!!
Thinking about moving on from it now, but thats just because i'm getting older and i am not as flexible as i used to be :embarrassed: :embarrassed:
As others have said, insurance on bigger bikes are never going to be cheap, but they are so worth it ;)
Isn't the Gsx650f a bit of a chunky bike for like for touring? But that might be more handy than a full on racing bike for all year round..
I've been looking on MCN website at "Top 10 motorcycle insurance bargains" and they say the Yamaha XJ6 is on the cheapest and Suzuki GSX650F is more on the other end, expensive.. Should I keep my YZF-R125 for one more year or jump to a bigger bike for more practical use?... :rolleyes:
If you are being governed by the insurance premiums, then you might consider getting something really cheap, and go 3rd party only. The GSX650F of my mates is definitely more sports touring, but don't dismiss this class as a stop gap....the performance is still a lot more fun on an open road than a 125.
Just looked on MCN bike insurance quote for a GSX650f it would be £360.56 a year fully comp which is much cheaper than what I'm paying for my 125 its £500
And Express insurance id pay £124.20 a year how is that, but thats third part fire and theft. I want one! :D I did lie about my job because I know it would be much higher if i put bus driver dont know why maybe because im on the road more but I put Plumber for the cheaper quote hehe :cool:
You need to re quote on the bus driver thing though as the insurance companies really will dig around to aviod paying out. Still, that is a good result.
I think you are looking at about 85 BHP for the GSX650F (2007-) and will pull 135ish on a private road. It is a far nicer bike around town than any sports bike, and a damned sight more comfortable if you were looking to zip down to London for the day.
Sounds good but would it be worth getting a bike like yours Ash?
Also just looking in my service book for my current bike and it was last serviced at 3,412 miles on the clock by the previous owner and recently I checked and it has 6,400 ish should i get it serviced soon or is it ok for a few more miles? And my tax is due end of next month...
I had a Suzuki GS500 for my first bike. Pretty slow, pretty boring but capable enough and good for learning on + very cheap. I'd recommend one to get you through the first year without pootling round on a 125.
First bike with any real oomph was an SV650 and I loved it.
Do whatever you want though. It's biking, it's lovely and you'll enjoy it. My only two bits of advice is 1) as long as you're going up the ladder in terms of what you prefer then the next bike will always be brilliant until you get bored and; 2) in my experience, those who have gone to quick quick bikes too early have scared the shit out of themselves or hurt themslves pretty quickly and ruined biking for themselves.
Thanks for your advise it will come in use :)
So other than the GSX650F and the SV650 what other bikes are there out there without the stupid crazy speed and high priced bracket?
Very good advice from Gilb IMO
I was riding a good few years before I moved onto the quick bikes of the day, and they are in reality a lot slower than today's offerings...even in the supersport bracket
Suzuki's are by and large very very good bikes in this '1st big bike' bracket. The paint finish on them is by and large better than the Kawasaki's also.
Would you say Suzuki all the way?
I'd not be riding a Kawasaki if that were the case, but for where you are looking to go with you next step up, you could do a lot worse.
good to know aha :cheesy:
i am getting on a bit but have just gone from 900 to 600 and have found no change in running coast's apart from the tyre's last a bit longer on the 600 both group 16 insur i did think the 600 would be less ?
i have had the bigger bikes R1 a few ZXR 900's GXR's have found the smaller bikes are more fun But Kawasaki is by far the best make I have had never miss a beat and i do treat them hard .
My theory when I got my first big bike, is that the chances of me falling off etc would be higher and cost more if I had a full faired bike, so I opted for a Bandit 600.
Bit heavy, but other than that it was perfect for what I wanted it for. Easy to work on, cheap to buy, run and insure.
Had that for a year and got a GSXR600k1, noticeable power/weight difference but still found it easy to ride.
I wouldn't worry about buying a bike with higher power, you can control how fast/slow you want to go. Take your time and get used it.
Whatever you choose...Enjoy :moto: